Fresh from Louisiana: The Soul of Cajun and Creole Home Cooking

Master the art of all the most delectable styles of Louisiana cooking, from Cajun to Creole, rural Acadiana to down-home New Orleans, in more than 100 easy-to-use recipes.

George Graham—a lifelong Louisianan, a former chef and restaurateur, and now an award-winning food writer and blogger—is a brilliant cook, a warm, funny, and engaging storyteller, and an ace photographer. He brings all these talents alive in Fresh from Louisiana, his second cookbook, following on the heels of his masterful Acadiana Table. George makes Louisiana cooking not just easy for home cooks to learn, but fun and interesting, too.

The recipes range from George’s pitch-perfect versions of classic Louisiana dishes to imaginative, brand-new ideas that use the signature flavors of the region’s cuisines in utterly new ways. You can start a glorious Louisiana meal with a Corn and Crab Bisque, a Crawfish Boil Chowder, or Mini Bell Peppers Stuffed with Crabmeat. For a main course, why not try a Pork Roast with Apple Pan Gravy, Crisp Chicken Thighs with Creole Jasmine Rice, or a Gulf Shrimp Pasta Primavera? There are lots of desserts, too, like Praline Pumpkin Pie, Macadamia Nut Ice Cream Sandwich, and Sweet Potato Pie Brûlée, plus sides, sandwiches, cooling drinks, and breakfast and brunch fare.

For soul-satisfying everyday dinners with family to amazing weekend feasts with friends, this beautiful book—with more than 100 color photos—brings the intriguing and delicious flavors of Louisiana home, wherever you might live.

Net Galley Review :

Fresh from Louisiana is an authentic cookbook from George Graham. It is written by seasons with beautiful photographs of each recipe. There are fun stories written throughout as well as tips and a guide of where to shop for high quality Louisiana ingredients. Great for readers not lucky enough to live in this great state. Where good food is a way of life and always fun to read the stories around the food. Lisa

Slow Burn: A Sensual Second-Chance Romance

Will their second chance burn hot enough to singe away the past? Only in this Dynasties: Seven Sins novel from USA TODAY bestselling author Janice Maynard!The prodigal playboy is back

and nothing is the same…

…except the attraction that still sizzles between Jake Lowell and the woman he left behind. But the globe-trotting bachelor is in for a surprise! Nikki Reardon is now a mother—to the daughter he never knew. He once blamed Nikki for the fall of his iconic family…now he can’t resist her. Will their slow burn spark a second chance or burn down all they hold dear?

From Harlequin Desire: Luxury, scandal, desire—welcome to the lives of the American elite.

Net Galley Book :

This was the 7th book in the series, it’s a good book. The characters were very well written. Both characters had major trust issues from their childhoods .But in this book they were able to put the issues aside and find there way back to each other. This is a great series of books about second chances, family and what love means. Lisa

Once Upon a Mail Order Bride (Outlaw Mail Order Brides Book 4)

An outlaw falls for his mysterious mail order bride in this sweeping western epic by beloved author Linda Broday.

Accused of crimes he didn’t commit, ex-preacher Ridge Steele is forced to give up everything he knew and make his home with outlaws. Desperate for someone to confide in, he strikes up correspondence with mail-order bride Adeline Jancy, finding in her the open heart he’s been searching for. Upon her arrival, Ridge discovers Addie only communicates through the written word, but he knows a little of what trauma can do to a person and vows to stand by her side.

Addie is eager to start a new life with the kind ex-preacher and the little boy she’s stolen away from her father—a zealot priest of a terrorized flock. As her small family settles into life at Hope’s Crossing, she even begins to find the voice, and confidence, she’d lost so long ago.

But danger is not far behind, and her father will not be denied. While Addie desperately fights the man who destroyed her childhood, a determined Ridge races to the rescue. The star-crossed lovers will need more than prayers to survive this final challenge…and find their way back to each other again.

nET gALLEY

This book is one of recovery, trusting then healing. They move step by step, each new progress is a victory on fate. Their journey is not a smooth one, it is leaving them bruised by the end but in the meanwhile they would have gained more than they lost. A new family and an everlasting love.A lovely book to spend the afternoon with.

God Hears Her 40-Day Devotional Journal

Makes a great Christmas gift….

With this beautiful all-in-one devotional journal, explore what it means that the Creator of the universe hears you. In 40 days, this one book will guide you to:

• Meditate on Scripture and read a related devotional
• Connect biblical truths to your life—past, present, and future
• Take inventory of your experiences and emotions
• Express your pains, passions, and pleasures in prayer
• Find hope in a growing relationship with God

This journal is part of the God Hears Her series from the writers of Our Daily Bread, bringing comfort and encouragement to women every day. Each product is designed to speak to a woman’s heart, lift her up, and remind her that God is bigger than the trials she faces.

Net Galley book

This devotional was a lovely 40 day journey I loved the fenman cover and outline of the book. It starts with scripture and then it’s outlined with connecting, then praying and lastly writing or journaling your thought to God. I. Perfect gift for yourself or a busy Mom. Lisa

The Stone Wall

Today’s book is perfect for Grandparents Day ! So give this book a read this Sunday !

Anna is eager to begin a new chapter in her life as a Lancaster County tour guide in the picturesque area where her Plain grandmother once stayed. Anna wishes she could talk with her grandmother about those long-ago days, but the elderly woman suffers from Alzheimer’s, and beyond a vague hint about an old stone wall, much about that time is a mystery. Thankfully, Martin Nolt, a handsome Mennonite, takes the young Beachy Amish woman under his wing for her training, familiarizing her with the many local highlights, including Peaceful Meadows Horse Retreat, which serves children with special needs. The retreat’s mission so inspires Anna that she returns to volunteer, and she quickly strikes up a friendship with Gabe Allgyer, the young Amish widower who manages it. 

As Anna grows closer to both Martin and Gabe, she finds herself faced with a difficult choice–one in potential conflict with the expectations of her parents. Will Anna find true love and the truth about her grandmother’s past in Lancaster County? Or will she find only heartbreak? 

Beverly Lewish has written a wonderful generational story entitled The Stone Wall. Through this story, you will visit the past which becomes important to the present. The setting descriptions were spot on! I actually felt I was driving around Lancaster County visiting my favorite places! The dual time story was woven perfectly throughout. A must read book for Beverly Lewis fans. ( Net Galley Book) Lisa

Experiencing God in the Ordinary

God’s presence is not “out there” but right here.
 
We tend to look for God in dramatic or miraculous moments, but such expectations can blind us to God’s ongoing presence. What if God is already with us, in the life we have this moment? When we experience ordinary but meaningful events, such as our first love or a favorite novel, we are in fact encountering God’s presence. As we learn to notice spiritual movement within and around us, we can recognize the many facets of God’s love that touch us daily.
 
“As a priest and spiritual director of many decades, my driving desire is for people to experience God’s limitless love for them and to recognize it when it emerges in what they consider just ordinary life happenings and conversations.”
—William A. Barry, SJ
 
Whether we are in pain or crisis, questioning if we are really worthy of God’s attention, or are simply wondering why God would be in the mundane details of our lives, Experiencing God in the Ordinary can nurture our hope—that God is always present and can be found in an ordinary day. Complete with personal stories and various suggestions for prayer and meditation, this book is perfect for devotional reading, retreat, or small-group discussion.

Net Galley Book :

Wow ! This book is just what I need at this time in my life. I needed the reminder that God is with me everyday as I go through my everyday life as a Mom and Wife and care giver to an elderly parent. God is Good…… Lisa

Eternity Springs: The McBrides of Texas: Tucker

In Eternity Springs: The McBrides of Texas, New York Times bestselling author Emily March presents a brand new arc set in the Lone Star State that features a family-linked trilogy within the author’s romantic series.

Hope springs eternal in this enchanting Texas town.

Meet Gillian Thacker. Her business: Bliss Bridal Salon. Her passion: Weddings. Her own wedding: It’s complicated. Life isn’t turning out like she’d planned. The last thing she wants is for a real-life hero to ride to her rescue when an unexpected event puts her entire future in Redemption, Texas, at risk. So what’s a broken-hearted bridal expert to do? Maybe a new set of survival skills is exactly what she needs…

Tucker McBride has been proud to call himself a U.S. Army Ranger. But now that his days of service are over, he’s decided to put his expertise to use by founding a wilderness skills training school. He sets up shop in Redemption, next to Bliss Bridal, and so begins life: Part Two. Marriage has been pretty low on his agenda, but as soon as he meets Gillian, Tucker can’t help but contemplate the ultimate challenge: Convincing the reluctant bride to take his hand and leap into the adventure of a lifetime. . .until death do they part.

Net Galley Book Review:

This book is a spinoff from the Eternity Springs series. This series center around a family (McBride) in a small Texas town that is beautifully written with characters that feel real and you care what ha[[ens to them.

This book center around Tucker Mc Bride and Gillian . Tucker an ex Army Ranger has set up shop next to Gillian Wedding shop in Redemption,Texas. And the drama begins as Tucker and Gillian meet and form a relationship in this town of hope and healing. With lots of up and downs this book will keep you turning the pages as the couple find there happy ending in a town call Redemption.

While it can be read as a standalone, there are many characters from the prior books that would make them more dimensional if some of the prior books were read.

A Fatal Fabergé

A new book in the Antiques & Collectibles mystery series by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Ellery Adams and Parker Riggs!

In the world of antiques and collectibles, it helps to have a sharp eye for quality, a good ear for gossip, and a nose for murder.

In the grips of a cold and drab autumn, Collector’s Weekly reporter Molly Appleby is thrilled to be attending a festive black-tie fundraiser hosted by the very private Natasha Gordon, an heiress known for her charitable events and aversion to the limelight. It’s Molly first chance to see the stunning interior of the Gordon estate, but when a rare book dealer is pushed from a high window to his death, she’s confronted with a sight that’s become all too common for her. And despite the fact that the crude and pompous victim was roundly disliked by all who knew him and that any number of people may have wanted him dead, Molly agrees to look into the murder for his surviving son.

As the police go about their steady business of interviewing the dozens of people in attendance that night, Molly decides to look closer to home and begins questioning the staff and anyone else connected to the estate and the victim. More and more stories of the dead man’s troubled life and marriage begin to emerge, including a potentially lucrative deal that’s gone bust and an old Gordon family heirloom that’s gone missing—a rare jeweled Fabergé egg once owned by the Empress Alexandra of Russia.

When clues to the murderer’s identity begin to accumulate, so too do the threats to Molly, and she knows she’s getting close to the truth. But with a secret family history and an untold amount of money on the line, Molly knows she’ll need to tread carefully before she becomes the latest victim of a killer trying to cover their tracks .

. .Net Galley Book Review :

A Fatal Faberge by Ellery Adams and Parker Riggs is the eighth in the Antiques and Collectibles series.This is a great series with Molly Appleby is a wife, mother and a reporter for Collecters Weekly. She and her husband receives an invite to an event where she meets Max a rare book collector who ends up dead. Just another case for Molly to solve with the added bonus of a missing Faberge egg from the collection . Molly will ask questions and follow leads to solve this mystery . Another exciting and fun read in this series.

Giving Thanks and Letting Go: Reflections on the Gift of Motherhood

What happens to a mother’s heart when her children grow up and begin their own lives? How can she absorb the mixed emotions of anxiety and excitement, grief and hope?

In Giving Thanks and Letting Go, bestselling Catholic author Danielle Bean ponders her emptying nest and overflowing heart as she encourages you to join her in leaning on God and discovering the joy and promise of this sacred season of parenting.

Comforting, relatable, and practical, Giving Thanks and Letting Go shares Danielle Bean’s personal experience of launching her children into their adult lives. From this crucial moment in her motherhood, she offers sage advice as she reflects on the precious years she spent raising children and learning to trust in God’s providence.

In her most personal book to date, Bean, brand manager at CatholicMom.com, reveals the freedom she discovered as she tossed out old trophies and Nordic Ware; the release she feels when she lets herself sob with abandon; the pleasant satisfaction of extra space in her home and in her marriage; and the happy recognition of God’s abiding presence through all the years of family life.

As you accompany Bean on her journey, you will learn to

• let yourself grieve;
• acknowledge that being a mom has never been easy;
• turn to your husband;
• give up control;
• accept the suffering with grace;
• trust in God to have the best plans;
• spark joy, give thanks, and move on; and
• nourish your soul, body, and mind.

Allow these familiar, comforting, and heart-tugging scenes from Bean’s life and the lessons she’s learned be your trusted companion for reflecting on your own parenting journey.

Net Galley Book Review

I am a daughter and I am a Mom to a college age son and last year I had to let him go . He’s now a college student finding his own way as I did -and I am trusting in God to keep him safe, And to know his parents are here for him. Just life my parents did for me.

With so many feelings, all together, at once – joy, sadness, elation, worry, trust, watching them move forward while wanting them to stay small. It can be a big jumble. Daniele has written about the joys of this season of parenthood when we reap a bit of what we’ve sown.As our children find there legs and Soar. It can be crazy but oh! so wonderful Lisa

Two Steps Forward (The Deacon’s Family Book #3)

Join us this Sunday as Mom and I have coffee and discuss books :

Back and broke in Stoney Ridge, Jimmy Fisher has coasted as long as he could through life on charm, good looks, and deep-set dimples. They always worked just fine for him–until they didn’t. His smile has no effect on the violet-eyed beauty he met at the Bent N’ Dent, the one with that stunning horse. She’s offered him a job, but nothing else.

The last thing Sylvie Schrock King needs around Rising Star Farm is a grown boy working for her, especially her neighbor Edith’s son. The woman holds a serious grudge against Sylvie and her son, and hiring Jimmy Fisher will only fan the flames of Edith’s rancor. But Sylvie is desperate for help on the farm, and Jimmy understands horses like no one else.

While Jimmy’s lazy smile and teasing ways steal Sylvie’s heart, Edith is working on a way to claim her land. Has Sylvie made another terrible mistake? Or is it too late to outfox the fox? More importantly . . . just who is the fox?

Writing with both wit and warmth, Fisher delivers a supremely satisfying conclusion to the popular Deacon’s Family series.

Net Galley Books :

The third book in “The Deacon’s Family” series . And lots of characters from the other two books show up -so this is best read in order. In this book its main characters are Jimmy Fisher and Sylvie Schrock King, and her son. We can’t forget Prince the Arabian horse. Sylvie is a widower living on rundown farm that she inherited from her late husband.  But with the help of Jimmy she may be able to get the farm back into shape. And find a new romance. Just another day at Stoney Ridge where anything can happen and makes for a great conclusion to a well loved book series. Lisa